Chef Matthew Rawlinson pleads guilty to Hamilton sexual assault

He was an up-and-coming chef, but his days of giving orders in the kitchen could be under threat after he was involved in a horrid sexual assault.

A one-time up-and-coming chef sexually assaulted a young woman after telling his victim he could “slit her throat”.

Matthew Rawlinson, 25, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Thursday to sexual assault, threat to inflict serious injury and assault.

Rawlinson attacked a woman at Hamilton in early 2020.

The court heard Rawlinson grabbed his victim’s arm and threw her into a wall which caused her to hit the ground.

Rawlinson, who called the victim a “c**t” and a “dog”, also said he could “so easily slit her throat” and “no one would miss her”.

Rawlinson, who called the young woman a “tease”, then slapped his “petrified” victim’s face several times.

The victim attempted to crawl away but Rawlinson grabbed her and pulled her back.

Rawlinson then sexually assaulted the victim.

The court heard the victim experienced a panic attack and was crying.

Later, Rawlinson threw a chef’s knife at his victim before the young woman was able to flee.

Rawlinson, a meth head, later presented himself at hospital.

A doctor reported Rawlinson appeared to be “panic and scared” and was hallucinating and hearing voices.

Rawlinson claimed people were spying on him, following him and they “wanted to kill him”.

The victim reported Rawlinson to police who arrested the drug-addled chef at the Bandicoot Inn later that day.

Rawlinson denied throwing the victim against the wall, verbally abusing the victim, slapping the victim or threatening to slit her throat.

Rawlinson also denied he told the victim he wanted to have sex with her.

“(I) didn’t even … crave having sex at all,” Rawlinson told police.

Rawlinson, who the court heard works as a chef, was charged in June 2020.

Rawlinson was set to chance his arm at trial but the matter was resolved the morning the trial was to commence.

The matter was adjourned for the defence to seek further plea material.

The prosecution has also sought a victim impact statement.

Judge Michael O’Connell will sentence Rawlinson at a later date.

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